Alexander Armstrong in India: Season 1, Episode 2

1 - 2: Episode 2

On the second leg of his Indian adventure, Alexander Armstrong heads north to the state of Rajasthan to visit the legendary Pink City of Jaipur.After arriving via the brand-new highway, Alexander sets off to explore the city's rich history and is impressed by stunning jewellery collection at the Gem Palace which, in the past, has attracted some high profile visitors including the Queen, Lady Di, Bill Clinton and Gwyneth Paltrow - and where Alexander sees some unusual and pricey items including diamond earrings worth £300,000. As he continues his journey, he's captivated by Jaipur's streets bursting with history and heritage.Alexander travels 2,000 km south to the state of Karnataka, stopping at Ramanagara to explore the town's lucrative silk industry before venturing into tiger country at Bandipur National Park. Once a declining species in India, tiger populations are now thriving. But this success comes at a cost. Alexander meets conservationist Sunita Dhairyam to learn about the realities of living alongside these beautiful - but deadly - wild cats, before setting out on a safari to try and see one for himself.At an ancient pilgrimage site, Alexander learns how monkeys here are considered sacred. Some residents love the macaque monkeys, and some residents loathe them. It's a hot topic, and Alexander speaks to people on both sides.Alexander soon discovers that while Jaipur is steeped in heritage, the next generation are making their own rules. Entrepreneur Randhir Singh invites Alexander into his less-than-traditional leather workshop, where he is producing various goods for the Indian market, including some for the erotic market. He also has a unique portrait taken with a fabulous antique camera by one of India's last street photographers, Tikam Chand.